LDS NEST BLOG

When serving in the Stake YW we focus our efforts to help Ward YW leaders. They have so much to do and that's not an exaggeration. Last year for our Ward leaders we presented them with a planner. It was given to help them ease their burden in planning then in turn they could focus more on their young women. Many of them liked what we had. Here's a version for this year in our Etsy Shop.

We tried to think of how each month would look for a ward leader and then incorporated it into a calendar. It helps that we've been ward leaders so we know what it's like to plan and carry out. Here's an example of one month.

Some choices are already matched and made. For example -• Come Follow Meprinciples are listed on each month (CFM = Come Follow Me)• Sunday Lessonssection to list who and what will be taught• Personal Progress Values are assigned to a month (coordinates with Come Follow Me)• Strength of Youth standards are assigned monthly (use for mutual opening exercises, talks, etc) • Leadership Lesson Topics from Church Handbook are assigned monthly (optional topics too)• BishopricInterviews space is listed each month to track YW interviews • PP Project Evaluation times are scheduled into certain months• Presidency Meetings purpose summaries are listed and space for notes• Conducting for Sunday and Mutual (space for names is included)• Mutual Activities space is provided for organizing • List Lines for extra dates, notes, needs, info, or other reminders• Infographicsummaries for Class Presidencies, Agendas, and Personal Progress• Reminders of things to do are put throughout the year (Camp, Conferences, etc)• Notes pages that are blank are included• Newsletter template to send out to parents is included too

Compact and concise. So much information in so simple a format. But there's more too.

There's a lot of talk about women, priesthood, and excommunication lately. Plenty of commentary on it as well. Some of it good, some not so much. Since the recent issues deal with Latter-day Saints directly we at LDS NEST had to think about what to say. Or not say in the discussion. Personally, I always have plenty to say. Very opinionated in fact. But, I have a little motto -

﻿Just because you can, doesn't mean you should﻿

Having lots of opinions I've realized that it's likely not all of them are good. So, I like to think about things a little before I venture opening my mouth. What should LDS NEST share? What's the message out of recent events? What discussions really help people? How does one help people stay on spiritual track? My thinking lead me to the scriptures and Alma sums it up for me.

﻿Alma 31:5 And now, as thepreaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to dothat which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the mindsof the peoplethanthe sword, oranything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.﻿

I feel for the families who are struggling with these issues and I think of my own. Any one of us can, and often does, error. But what keeps bringing us back around is the word of God. Plain and simple. So... Do we read it? Do we know it? Do we teach it?

Click Image Above for Free Download of FHE Ring Thing

In answer to how we should approach current events I came to the conclusion that the best use of my time and effort for my family and LDS NEST would be to make sure we share pure doctrine (Something that is "more powerful on minds than anything else".) With that idea we had a FHE lesson about the Priesthood - Priesthood Power. I thought I'd share what I came up with, with you.

I read through Elder Oaks recent talk, Keys and Authority of the Priesthood, other talks and scripture. The information can be tricky to understand and I wanted it to be clear to my kids so I summarized it all out in a way that made sense to me. It made sense to them. Maybe it will make sense to you too. There is a free download Ring Thing here.

Besides the Ring Thing Lesson there is a Lesson Outline to go with it and Power Bar wrappers. It's just a little added bonus for fun that you can purchase here (it includes all the Priesthood Power handouts.) Next on my mind to teach my kids about is Apostasy. What do you think about the subject?

We have a new Ten Commandments Printable over at our﻿Etsy Shop.﻿ You might want to use it for a FHE discussion tomorrow or frame it for your home. Bookmark or Pin this for the Come Follow Me Lessons. September's topic: Commandments.

So I've been slacking on doing handouts lately. Sorry for those of you that have been looking for them! We sold our house, moved in with mom and dad until we close on our house. (hopefully! It's been a long process). Oh, and we've been getting ready for baby two! Three ish more weeks!

The handouts we post are because we use them in our callings and we want to share them with everyone who can use them. If we don't post something one week it's probably because we didn't teach, didn't need handouts, or didn't have time. If you're looking for handouts and we don't have any up that week you can look through our handouts from last yearand see if any of them will work for your lessons! You can also follow us on Pinterest for more handouts/ideas!

Bah! It's already February! I totally spaced that we had a new month coming up...don't ask me how. It's not like it doesn't happen every single month. Somehow I forgot anyway. Here are some last minute handouts for your lessons tomorrow if you need them! Black and white versions are for printing on Young Women Value-colored card stock. Just print the colored versions on white card stock! We will have more handouts for your February lessons this month so make sure to check back or enter your email to get posts sent directly to you!

It's a new year, Nesties! Now that the holidays are over you'll probably see more of me :) Either way, here are handouts for Come Follow Me for this month. Can I just say how much I love this curriculum??! I LOVE IT!

I've started creating black and white versions for those of you that want to print on young women value-colored cardstock. For those of us that don't care (raises hand), I also have colored handouts you can print on white cardstock. Win-win!

Bring a full sheet of paper to class with each girl's name across the top. Have each girl choose a color they love from the crayons. Have them go quietly to each person's paper and write something sincere and meaningful that they admire in that girl.

I apologize that there aren't as many to choose from this month! I may or may not be making more before the holidays come! Thanks for coming by, and feel free to share these and our other handouts with your friends!

Update:

I'm trying something new...putting all of my handouts out at the first of the month. That way if you're covering a different topic that week you still have something if you want them! All handouts are 4"x5" so you can fit 4 on a page, or you can download the PDF versions. Enjoy!